Hello, my names Aleena, I’ve been type one for 7 years now, which is a long time, however I never really accepted it. I struggle so much. Use to never do any insulin or test, just levimer so no one would notice too much, almost killed me. They started getting better with help and support but now I’m at a loss, I was hoping this would give me strength to carry on and understand that there are a lot of people in this world with diabetes. Anyone please help
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Hanging on
- Thread starter Aleena97
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @Aleena97 🙂 You’re not alone. Type 1 is very wearing day after day with no break. I’ve had it almost 30 years and there have been times when I struggled a lot. My advice is to take one day at a time and try to keep some kind of routine where you do things automatically rather than dwell on them too much, or let them take over your mind.
Do you have a Libre?
What are you struggling with particularly at the moment? Is it the acceptance of having Type 1, or practical things, or the emotional and mental strain?
Do you have a Libre?
What are you struggling with particularly at the moment? Is it the acceptance of having Type 1, or practical things, or the emotional and mental strain?
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi @Aleena97 I am sorry to hear how difficult you are finding things with your diabetes at present.
It is not uncommon for people With T1 to be overwhelmed by it at times, and I know that I went through a very rough patch, so you are not alone.
I am pleased to hear that you at least continued your basal insulin during the worst of times.
I think I was surprised how little other people notice when I am testing or sorting things out for my diabetes in public, but it is understandable that this can be a concern.
You have mentioned that things have already improved. Can you tell us what you have already managed to change (as well as giving yourself a pat on the back for achieving these things). Their is loads of experience to tap into on here, and there are people on here that helped me to get myself back on track.
Just take things one step at a time. let us know if there is a specific concern that you can identify and people will be only too willing to help. Nothing is considered silly on here, so you have found the right place to come to. I also found it helpful to be honest with my DSN and Consultant about how difficult I was finding it to cope with the emotional side of managing things. I would encourage you to reach out to your team.
keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
It is not uncommon for people With T1 to be overwhelmed by it at times, and I know that I went through a very rough patch, so you are not alone.
I am pleased to hear that you at least continued your basal insulin during the worst of times.
I think I was surprised how little other people notice when I am testing or sorting things out for my diabetes in public, but it is understandable that this can be a concern.
You have mentioned that things have already improved. Can you tell us what you have already managed to change (as well as giving yourself a pat on the back for achieving these things). Their is loads of experience to tap into on here, and there are people on here that helped me to get myself back on track.
Just take things one step at a time. let us know if there is a specific concern that you can identify and people will be only too willing to help. Nothing is considered silly on here, so you have found the right place to come to. I also found it helpful to be honest with my DSN and Consultant about how difficult I was finding it to cope with the emotional side of managing things. I would encourage you to reach out to your team.
keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Yes, take all the help that's available. If you haven't already, ask for a CGM (makes testing less annoying and has a variety of other benefits). Get reusable pens (because they can remember when you last injected and how much, which I find reassuring (though I almost never actually look it's nice to know that I can)).
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome from me too.
So sorry to read that you are struggling to come to terms with your diabetes and manage it well. I am only 3.5 years down the line with it but I fnd this forum has been invaluable in keeping me sane and on the right track with it. I also found it really beneficial doing a DAFNE course (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) or whatever your local equivalent is. Spending a week with other Type 1s who were also calculating carbs and injecting insulin really helped to normalize it. I was quite secretive about injecting in public and would go to the toilets in restaurants until I did the course so it really helped me that particularly the young girls on my course very openly lifted their blouse to expose a bit of midriff and injected into it without any fuss or concern. That gave me the confidence to do so too and I have not gone out of my way to hide my injecting ever since. Most people will be far too busy living their lives to notice what you are doing and in a restaurant it is usually below table level anyway, so if you choose a seat in a corner it is even easier to be discrete.
Reach out to your DSN for support. This is really important. If you don't have a Freestyle Libre then do ask for that as it can make a huge difference not only in enabling you to see what your levels are doing day and night without finger pricking but it also changed my mentality towards my diabetes management and I now treat it like a very long running computer game rather than a health condition, where I try to improve my Time in Range score and get a personal best.
Anyway, I am really pleased that you have reached out to the forum because it is only other diabetics who can fully understand the immense responsibility and mental drain of managing your BG levels. It is incredibly hard work but it is better that we find ways to make it easier and keep it in check than to let it get out of control as that makes it harder in the long run. Learning tips and tricks from others who have been there and face the same challenges is incredibly helpful so I do hope you will tap into the forum regularly for support and inspiration and also as a way of keeping yourself accountable and on track. Many of us use the "Group 7-day waking average" thread to touch base and post our morning fasting reading and seek support or just feel part of the community. It is a bit like a virtual coffee morning.... Feel free to join in if you fancy it.
Finally I want to say a huge WELL DONE for reaching out to the forum for help. Recognizing that you need help and asking for it is the first big step to getting things back on track. The more resources you tap into for help (ie your DSN, technology, this forum, family and friends etc) the easier it will become. Hope to see you become a regular on the forum and start to see your results improve and your confidence in "taming the beast" grow.
So sorry to read that you are struggling to come to terms with your diabetes and manage it well. I am only 3.5 years down the line with it but I fnd this forum has been invaluable in keeping me sane and on the right track with it. I also found it really beneficial doing a DAFNE course (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) or whatever your local equivalent is. Spending a week with other Type 1s who were also calculating carbs and injecting insulin really helped to normalize it. I was quite secretive about injecting in public and would go to the toilets in restaurants until I did the course so it really helped me that particularly the young girls on my course very openly lifted their blouse to expose a bit of midriff and injected into it without any fuss or concern. That gave me the confidence to do so too and I have not gone out of my way to hide my injecting ever since. Most people will be far too busy living their lives to notice what you are doing and in a restaurant it is usually below table level anyway, so if you choose a seat in a corner it is even easier to be discrete.
Reach out to your DSN for support. This is really important. If you don't have a Freestyle Libre then do ask for that as it can make a huge difference not only in enabling you to see what your levels are doing day and night without finger pricking but it also changed my mentality towards my diabetes management and I now treat it like a very long running computer game rather than a health condition, where I try to improve my Time in Range score and get a personal best.
Anyway, I am really pleased that you have reached out to the forum because it is only other diabetics who can fully understand the immense responsibility and mental drain of managing your BG levels. It is incredibly hard work but it is better that we find ways to make it easier and keep it in check than to let it get out of control as that makes it harder in the long run. Learning tips and tricks from others who have been there and face the same challenges is incredibly helpful so I do hope you will tap into the forum regularly for support and inspiration and also as a way of keeping yourself accountable and on track. Many of us use the "Group 7-day waking average" thread to touch base and post our morning fasting reading and seek support or just feel part of the community. It is a bit like a virtual coffee morning.... Feel free to join in if you fancy it.
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/group-7-day-waking-average.20148/page-4601#post-1198604
Finally I want to say a huge WELL DONE for reaching out to the forum for help. Recognizing that you need help and asking for it is the first big step to getting things back on track. The more resources you tap into for help (ie your DSN, technology, this forum, family and friends etc) the easier it will become. Hope to see you become a regular on the forum and start to see your results improve and your confidence in "taming the beast" grow.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Aleena97
I am so pleased that you have made such great strides with your diabetes management. Diabetes can be such a steep learning curve, and really quite overwhelming - and depending on your time of life and circumstances at the time, it can be difficult for people to give it the unrelenting attention it demands.
The trick, for me, seems to be getting diabetes, and diabetes management strategies to fit around life, rather than life constantly having to fit around diabetes.
There will be some compromises, and workarounds for sure… but it small steps in the direction are really worthwhile.
Are there any things that you are struggling with at the moment?
We are rooting for you. Hang in there!
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